In 2007 I and a few others were called by Pastor Walter to come to a home in the rural area and pray. When we arrived we were met by the family of a young man named Sampson. We entered the house in silence and sat down. A brother went into the back room and practically carried Sampson out to the room where we sat. He was emaciated to say the least. A skeleton of a young man on the very threshold of death.
We prayed fervent prayers over him for some time, then left. In my mind I can remember thinking this was one more victim of HIV/AIDS in Swaziland. After a few days I heard he was brought to the church and after the service practically crawled down the isle for prayer - his last hope.
With all the death and suffering here in Swaziland I honestly didn't give Sampson much more thought. The image of his ravaged body would come up now and then but it was joined by many other horrific images and memories of the past several years.
Fast forward to this trip, October 2010. I was out at a care point when Pastor Walter pulled up in his truck with several passengers - all students at the local bible college. As I walked over to Walter to greet him he pointed out one of the men and asked if I recognized him. I said I could see his face but I did not know who he was. When Walter told me it was Sampson I could not believe it. Not only has be been healed he is a student at the bible college studying to be a pastor.
I don't know if you can relate to this, but many times in my life I have struggled with the concept of the power of prayer. Some of the things I have prayed for with the most sincerity and faith have not turned out the way I asked. Other things I pray for and forget I find become answered prayers almost without my notice. I sometimes come to the conclusion that prayer is a lot more about changing me than changing the actions of an almighty God. This sort of fatalism has dampened my faith and caused me to ask for a lot less and just focus on getting grace to accept things the way they are. Seeing Sampson walking in health and in a strong relationship with the Lord helps my faith.
Prayer is still a mystery to me. I do believe that God answered this prayer. Somehow through prayers by myself and many others in Sampson's church for his healing he has been powerfully saved from the edge of the grave. As a result, he is committing his life to serve God the best he knows how.
I'll keep praying for things I don't understand and in the midst of that ask the Lord for the faith to trust Him however He answers.
Am I alone in this struggle with prayer? What are you praying for today?
